The Guardians

Chapter 3

Zeus watched the progress of his nephew approvingly. The Daughter of Pluto and Son of Mars had turned him down, but he hadn't let that get to him. He had recruited a couple of legionaires instead, as well as the former praetor.

Zeus sighed and turned back to his paperwork. He was going through the reports that had been filed with him over the past month. He blinked in surprise when he read through the latest report. Thor had made an appearance in New Mexico?

He frowned. Thor coming down to their realm breached the treaty with Olympus. Zeus didn't want another war, so he'd have to do something to fix it. But what? Then, it hit him. He would offer a marriage alliance.

He immediately sent a message to Odin about the issue and his solution. He promised that Odin's second son could have his pick of any of the unmarried gods or goddesses in the pantheon, so long as they weren't maiden gods or goddesses.

Zeus, satisfied that his plan would work, went back to the reports.

Sure enough, an hour later, he received a message from Odin, agreeing to the marriage alliance and promising that his second son would have chosen his spouse by the year's end.

Zeus smiled as he sent the portfolio of available deities to him for his son to go through. Yes, this would work well to avoid another war.

However, Zeus forgot one small detail. There was one god who was desired by all pantheons. The only god not on the Council that dared defy him.

Perseus was not going to be happy.

∆_______________∆

Loki stared up at the ceiling of his cell and waited for his mother's daily visit. After he had tried to destroy the frost giants, he had been thrown in prison without a trial, told that it was a mercy. That any other would have been executed for such an attempt.

He sighed as he fiddled with the magic binding cuffs. Honestly, they didn't fully bind his magic, only muffled his ability to reach it. Still, he didn't want to give away that he could still perform simple spells for fear that Odin would bind his magic with a ritual.

The thought of Odin sent a sharp pain through Loki's heart as he remembered the painful truth of his true heritage. It made sense to Loki now why Odin had always favored Thor and barely paid any attention to Loki other than to scold him for his unorthodox combat.

"My son, I bring news."

Loki looked up at his mother and smiled. She and Thor had always treated him like family, even if the rest of Asgard shamed him. "What news, Mother?" he asked.

Frigga looked upset, though not with Loki. She was holding a large book. "The All-Father has asked me to inform you that you are to be married in order to avoid war with the Greeks."

Loki always prided himself on maintaining his composure at all times (save for when he found out about his true heritage), but this came as a shock. "I am to be married?" he repeated, his eyes wide and emotions clearly showing on his face.

Frigga nodded. "There are two good things about this," she said. "The first is that you will be released from the dungeons to live in Olympus. The second is that you get to choose which of the Greeks you are to marry. I have brought you the book of options."

Loki took a steadying breath before reaching for the book she held. He opened it and saw the first page.

There was a picture of a god, along with his title, status, and parents. He turned the page to find a different profile. And another. And another.

"You have until the end of the year to decide," Frigga said softly. "It's nearly Beltane."

Loki sagged against the wall. "Thank you for informing me, Mother. Please thank Father for giving me the choice of spouse." Loki understood that it could be a lot worse for him, and he appreciated that Odin was at least giving him this.

Frigga smiled sympathetically. "Of course. Thor will be down to visit soon. He wanted to go through the book with you, as he's met some of the gods in that pantheon and feels he may be able to guide you somewhat."

Loki let the ghost of a smile touch his lips. He had no idea what possessed him to feel such hate towards his adoptive brother. Yes, he hated Thor's friends, but Thor had always been supportive of him.

He set the book aside and listened as his mother filled him in on the politics of the realms. She then gave him another book, this time on Greek Culture and History. "I hope you can find this to be of use, my son," she said before departing.

Loki began to read the book on culture and found some to be quite interesting. He was just finishing it when Thor entered his cell and sat beside him, picking up the book of profiles and opening it.

Together, they went through the book and made a list of possible candidates. Loki preferred the male form, so they discounted most of the females.

They had only gotten partway through the book when Thor had to leave, promising to return the next day with some more books on Midgard so he could learn what he needed to.